Device for rotating passage through a wall subject to different pressures on either side

ABSTRACT

For effecting control from one side of a wall of a member on the other side thereof, such as through the pressure hull of a submarine, an arrangement is provided wherein a rotary shaft passes through a bore in the wall and a separate housing mounted on the high pressure side about the axis of the bore, such that driver and driven members can be coupled to the ends of the shaft. The housing is formed with a cavity, and the shaft comprises first and second shaft elements axially separable but rotatably coupled with each other. The second shaft element extends from the housing cavity away from the wall and has a shoulder in the housing cavity facing toward the wall, and bearing rotatably against a thrust bearing disposed in the housing between the wall and the shoulder. The housing and the wall bore are sealed so as to be fluid tight. The housing, which comprises a housing body and a removable cap, is coupled to the high pressure side of the wall, such as by threaded rods, bolts, etc. The arrangement permits the opening in the wall to take the form of a simple smooth bore, with the necessary machining of shoulders and other arrangements for ensuring sealing and resisting pressure being done on the separate housing. The arrangement also limits the transmission of nonrotative stresses from the second shaft element on the high pressure side to the first shaft element, which extends into the low pressure area. The arrangement also facilitates repair after damage.

United States Patent David et al.

[ Sept. 17, 1974 DEVICE FOR ROTATING PASSAGE THROUGH A WALL SUBJECT TO DIFFERENT PRESSURES ON EITHER SIDE [75] Inventors: Pierre Yvon David, La Valette;

Gilbert Marius Martin, La Seyne, both of France [73] Assignee: Republic of France as represented by the State Minister charged with National Defence Delegation Ministerielle pour IArmement, Bureau des Prevets et Inventions,

Paris, France [22] Filed: Sept. 20, 1973 [21] Appl. No.: 399,155

[30] Foreign Application Priority Data Sept. 25, 1972 France 72.33am

[52] U.S. Cl. 114/16 R, 74/178 [51] Int. Cl. B63g 8/00, Fl6j 15/50 [58] Field of Search ll4/l6 F, 16 R; 74/178 [56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS l,2l3,l53 l/l9l7 Citroen ll4/l6F 2,863,336 12/1958 Parstorfer 74/l7.8

1,283,597 ll/l966 Doll 74/l7.8

FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS 826,5l3 l/l960 Great Britain 74/l7.8

Primary ExaminerTrygve M. Blix Assistant ExaminerCharles E. Frankfort Attorney, Agent, or Firm-Larson, Taylor & Hinds [5 7 ABSTRACT For effecting control from one side of a wall of a member on the other side thereof, such as through the pressure hull of a submarine, an arrangement is provided wherein a rotary shaft passes through a bore in the wall and a separate housing mounted on the high pressure side about the axis of the bore, such that driver and driven members can be coupled to the ends of the shaft. The housing is formed with a cavity, and the shaft comprises first and second shaft elements axially separable but rotatably coupled with each other. The second shaft element extends from the housing cavity away from the wall and has a shoulder in the housing cavity facing toward the wall, and bearing rotatably against a thrust bearing disposed in the housing between the wall and the shoulder. The housing and the wall bore are sealed so as to be fluid tight. The housing, which comprises a housing body and a removable cap, is coupled to the high pressure side of the wall, such as by threaded rods, bolts, etc. The arrangement permits the opening in the wall to take the form of a simple smooth bore, with the necessary machining of shoulders and other arrangements for ensuring sealing and resisting pressure being done on the separate housing. The arrangement also limits the transmission of nonrotative stresses from the second shaft element on the high pressure side to the first shaft element, which extends into the low pressure area. The arrangement also facilitates repair after damage.

8 Claims, Z Drawing Figures DEVICE FOR ROTATING PASSAGE THROUGH A WALL SUBJECT TO DIFFERENT PRESSURES ON EITHER SIDE FIELD OF THE INVENTION This invention relates to a device or apparatus for effecting rotary drive or passage through a wall subject to different pressures on its sides, particularly in the field of submersible apparatus.

BACKGROUND AND SUMMARY Problems and difficulties encountered in this field are well known, especially in the case of submarines where it is necessary to make passages through the pressure hull to control from the inside members disposed on the outside of the craft, while the hull is subject to high external/internal pressure differences, of the order of a hundred bars for the outside pressure and 760 millibars for the ambient pressure in the submarine when it navigates at great depth. Generally, the known arrangements for effecting rotary control drive through the hull have involved forming, on the one hand, an opening in the hull for passage of the control shaft, and, on the other hand, the machining of chambers, annular grooves, etc. to receive the necessary collars, joints, seals, etc. to resist external pressures and ensure the seal. These arrangements have not always been entirely satisfactory, and it is cumbersome, difficult and expensive to effect them because of the necessity of performing machining work in the hull that meets precise tolerances. Moreover, merely from the design, it is often the case that blockages and the like occur when the craft changes course in the depths because of pressures exerted on the part of the shaft that issues from the hull of the submarine. Furthermore, in case of damage, many of the known arrangements can be repaired only through integral disassembly, which is a major draw back.

It is a general object of this invention to provide an arrangement for effecting rotary control drive from the inside of a craft such as a submarine of a member disposed on the outside of the pressure hull of the submarine, while only making in the hull a smooth cylindrical bore for passage of the control shaft, the device in case of damage being relatively easily repairable and retaining an improved degree of fluid tight integrity.

In keeping with the object, the invention generally comprises a shaft rotatably mounted in a wall of the type subject to different pressures on its faces, such that the ends of the shaft can be coupled to driving and driven members at its ends. The shaft preferably is constituted by at least two cooperating shaft elements, and the shaft passes also through a separate housing mounted on the high pressure face of the wall, the shaft element which is principally disposed on the high pressure side having a shoulder that bears rotatably against a bearing carried by the separate housing. The other shaft element, that is, the element which is principally disposed on the low pressure side, also has a shoulder bearing on the housing through a wear annulus or the like. The two shaft elements are rotatably coupled by an intermediate element having at each of its axial extremities a diametral tenon that engages in a diametral groove in the adjacent shaft element. The diametral tenons are disposed at 90 with reference to each other. The bearing preferably is a roller thrust bearing. The housing preferably comprises a housing body mounted against the high pressure face of the wall and having an open outer end which is closed by a removable cap. The housing is hollowed out along coaxial diameters to provide the necessary housings and/or seats for the bearing, wear annulus, shoulders, etc., thus permitting the opening through the wall itself to be a smooth caliber bore. The housing body and its cap preferably are fixed to the wall by threaded connectors.

Among the advantages of the arrangement in accordance with the invention is the fact that the passage through the hull requires only one free hole, the machining of the shoulders and other arrangements to ensure seal and resist pressure being done on the separate housing, which renders it possible to do this machining and the like in the shop. Furthermore, the arrangement limits the transmission of stresses exerted on the outer shaft element to the inner shaft elements, because the elements do not bear on each other and only cooperate in rotation. Thus, the outer shaft element has a shoulder bearing against the roller bearing in the separate housing, whereby forces and stresses on the outer shaft element are transmitted to the separate housing and thence to the hull. The interposition of the intermediate element between the two shaft elements, and their assembly by grooves and tenons disposed at with respect to each other, allows the taking up of any false alignment that might be present upon completion of assembly.

v Other and further features and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the ensuing description of a preferred embodiment, taken with reference to the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a view in partial section of a wall incorporating an arrangement in accordance with the invention.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the intermediate element that rotatably connects the two shaft elements in the housing cavity.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT FIG. 1 illustrates a preferred embodiment of the in-' vention passing through a wall 1, having on its faces extra thicknesses la and 1b, the wall being, for instance, part of the pressure hull of a submarine. Rotary control drive through the wall is effected by means of a shaft 2, comprising three elements, 2a, 2b and 2c. The wall includes a smooth caliber bore 10 in which element 2a of shaft 2 is disposed. The shaft comprises at its end that extends into the interior of the craft a threaded part 21a carrying a spindle nut 3 and a portion 22a on which which there is keyed a handle 4 or the-like, for example by means of a tapped nut locking device 5 and a clamping nut 6 cooperating with a threaded part 23a at the end of element 2a. Element 2a also has a groove 24a in which there is disposed a seal 7. A wear washer 8, of bronze, for example, is inserted between the face of thickened portion 1a andnu t 3.

On the face of the other thickened portion lb there is a housing 9 comprising, on the one hand, a cylindrical projection 9a which engages in a cylindrical seat Id in the thickened portion 1b, and, on the other hand, a cylindrical projection 9b that cooperates with a seat 10a of a cap 10. Housing 9 has a chamber 90 machined out along different coaxial diameters, and it has an opening 9d through which shaft element 2a passes. Shaft element 2a includes a shoulder 25a seated in a cylindrical space 91c of chamber 9c, and bearing on bearing surface 9e by means of a wear washer 11.

At its end near shoulder 25a, element 2a presents a diametral groove 26a in which there engages a diametral tenon 21b of intermediate element 2b, whose external diameter is identical to that of element 2a. Intermediate element 2b comprises at its other end another diametral tenon 22b disposed at 90 with reference to tenon 21b (see FIG. 2), which tenon 22b cooperates with a groove 210 on one of the ends of element 2c, which is machined to engage inside the lower bearing race of roller bearing 12.

Shaft element has a shoulder 22c which bears against roller bearing 12, which in turns bears on a bearing surface 9f of housing 9. Bearing 12 and shoulder 22c are seated in a space 920 of chamber 9c. Shoulder 22c is approximately level or flush with projection Housing 9 includes, on the side of projection 9a, an annular groove 9g in which a toric seal 13 is seated.

Cap 10 crowns housing 9 and the elements that it contains. It has an opening at 10b through which passes shaft element 20. Seat 10a is deep enough to allow some play between its bottom and shoulder 22c. A wear washer, not shown, could be disposed here to limit the longitudinal play.

Cap 10 includes a bevel 10c housing a toric seal 14 enclosing projection 9b of housing 9. An annular seal 15, which may, for example, be of X cross section, is disposed in a groove 10d in cap 10.

Cap 10 and housing 9 are fixed, for example, by four rods 16 screwed by one of their ends in threaded bores 1e of wall 1, and having clamping nuts 17 at their other ends. The housing and the cap are pierced by four holes in which threaded rods 16 are located.

When the device is being assembled, spindle nut 3 is suitably adjusted so that shaft 2 may turn without forcing, with minimum longitudinal clearance between shoulder a cooperating with washer 11, on the one hand, and bearing surface 92 of housing 9, on the other hand, the nut 3 cooperating with washer 8 and thickened portion 1a of wall 1.

This arrangement has the effect, in case of accidental rupture of the housing and its cap, of sustaining the housing in position, closely applied against wall 1, whereby the pressure of the water tends to ensure the seal of the device at this place.

Of course, without going beyond the scope of the invention, there may be various modifications made by persons skilled in the art, and hence the illustrated and described arrangement should be considered merely exemplary of the invention.

We claim:

1. In combination, a wall having first low-pressure and second high-pressure sides and a smooth bore therethrough, and apparatus for effecting rotary drive through said wall bore, said apparatus comprising a separate housing means mounted wholly on said second side at one end of and about the axis of said bore so as to lie axially clear of said bore, said housing means having a cavity therein and openings aligned with said bore, shaft means passing from said first side of said wall sealingly through said bore with slight clearance and then into and through said housing means such that driver and driven members can be coupled to the ends thereof, said shaft means comprising first and second shaft elements axially separable but rotatably coupled with each other, said second shaft element extending from said housing away from said wall and having a shoulder in said housing facing axially toward said wall, said housing having thrust bearing means disposed therein between said wall and said shoulder and facing said shoulder such that said shoulder bears axially rotatably against said bearing means, thus limiting the transmission of non-rotative stresses from said second shaft element to said first shaft element.

2. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein said first shaft element has a shoulder in said housing facing toward said wall and bearing axially against bearing means located in said housing between said second shaft shoulder and said second side of said wall.

3. Apparatus as claimed in claim 2 wherein said housing means in its cavity has inwardly stepped portions forming support surfaces facing away from said wall for rceiving and supporting said bearing means.

4. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein adjacent ends of said first and second shaft elements are located in said housing and are rotatably coupled by a third shaft element located therebetween and having at each of it axial ends a diametral tenon that engages in a diametral groove in the adjacent axial end of the adjacent shaft element.

5. Apparatus as claimed in claim 4 wherein said diametral tenons at the axial ends of said third shaft element are disposed at 90 with reference to each other.

' ing a cylindrical projection on its base engaging in a corresponding seat in said second side of said wall, said cap being mounted on the outer end of said housing body and having an opening through which said second shaft element extends, and means releasably securing said housing body and said cap to said wall.

8. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein said wall forms part of the pressure hull of a submarine. 

1. In combination, a wall having first low-pressure and second high-pressure sides and a smooth boRe therethrough, and apparatus for effecting rotary drive through said wall bore, said apparatus comprising a separate housing means mounted wholly on said second side at one end of and about the axis of said bore so as to lie axially clear of said bore, said housing means having a cavity therein and openings aligned with said bore, shaft means passing from said first side of said wall sealingly through said bore with slight clearance and then into and through said housing means such that driver and driven members can be coupled to the ends thereof, said shaft means comprising first and second shaft elements axially separable but rotatably coupled with each other, said second shaft element extending from said housing away from said wall and having a shoulder in said housing facing axially toward said wall, said housing having thrust bearing means disposed therein between said wall and said shoulder and facing said shoulder such that said shoulder bears axially rotatably against said bearing means, thus limiting the transmission of non-rotative stresses from said second shaft element to said first shaft element.
 2. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein said first shaft element has a shoulder in said housing facing toward said wall and bearing axially against bearing means located in said housing between said second shaft shoulder and said second side of said wall.
 3. Apparatus as claimed in claim 2 wherein said housing means in its cavity has inwardly stepped portions forming support surfaces facing away from said wall for rceiving and supporting said bearing means.
 4. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein adjacent ends of said first and second shaft elements are located in said housing and are rotatably coupled by a third shaft element located therebetween and having at each of it axial ends a diametral tenon that engages in a diametral groove in the adjacent axial end of the adjacent shaft element.
 5. Apparatus as claimed in claim 4 wherein said diametral tenons at the axial ends of said third shaft element are disposed at 90* with reference to each other.
 6. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein said bearing means comprises a roller thrust bearing.
 7. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein said housing means comprises a housing body and a housing cap, said housing body being mounted on said wall and having a cylindrical projection on its base engaging in a corresponding seat in said second side of said wall, said cap being mounted on the outer end of said housing body and having an opening through which said second shaft element extends, and means releasably securing said housing body and said cap to said wall.
 8. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein said wall forms part of the pressure hull of a submarine. 